School of Nursing and Midwifery

MSc Midwifery (Shortened)

This programme provides Registered Adult Nurses, who already have a relevant degree and NMC PIN, with the opportunity to study midwifery at masters level. We equip you with the skills, knowledge and professional insight to become a registered midwife, building on your previous nursing experience. Whether it's helping women during pregnancy and birth, or giving support to new mothers, you learn through doing, building your confidence as you go. Graduate ready to excel as a fully rounded midwife.

This blended learning degree is suited to students who are self-motivated and able to study independently online, accessing engaging digital learning materials for the theoretical element, with regular support from tutors in local areas. You will also undertake weekly integrated clinical placements in one of the maternity units across the South West of England, where practice supervisors support you to learn and progress to achieve the required NMC standards of proficiency for midwives.

MSc Midwifery (shortened) blended learning programme

This blended learning midwifery masters degree will equip you with the skills, knowledge and professional insight needed to become an NMC Registered Midwife. The programme will allow you to build on your nursing skills and experience, giving you the confidence to work inclusively with women and families. You will develop the competence to provide high quality, evidence informed care.

This full-time programme moves away from traditional lecture-based classroom teaching, instead immersing students within a variety of engaging online activities which you will study at level 6 and 7.

The programme offers a flexible highly motivated approach to learning, suiting those who are looking to balance university life with other commitments.

Asynchronous learning allows students to undertake theoretical study, when it is convenient for them, based around their weekly clinical placements and home-life commitments; putting them at the centre of their midwifery journey.

Regular facilitated tutorials will offer additional tailored support from expert midwifery lecturers in this innovative and exciting new curriculum.

Your career as a healthcare professional starts here

The first-class new home for our healthcare teaching and research providing students with skills to meet the needs of 21st century careers.

InterCity Place InterCity Place
 A unique new learning space where undergraduate and postgraduate students from the largest breadth of health disciplines in the South-West learn together under one roof, with expert practitioners.

Medical students using the Anatomage table clinical Plymouth Integrative Health and Social Care Education Centre (PIHC)
 Experience an interprofessional learning environment across our health programmes that will prepare you for life as a healthcare professional.

First choice for health Become a healthcare professional of the future
 Collaboration across the schools helps students to learn with, from and about each other, gaining the real-world experience employers seek.

Careers with this subject
Midwives support women during pregnancy, labour and the post-natal period, and are experts on childbirth. They work with women from diverse backgrounds and cultures, providing parenting and health education. They create bespoke individuals programmes of care, considering psychological and social impacts on pregnancy and birth.
Midwives support women when they need it most.
  • Antenatal care – relates to the period of the entire pregnancy. They assist with parenting classes, clinical examinations and screening to assess the health of the baby.
  • High-risk pregnancies – you’ll work with people who may have existing health conditions such as diabetes or HIV, may be overweight or obese which may lead to developing additional complications, people that have had multiple births, or may be very young or over the age of 35.
  • Labour and birthing – you’ll monitor women and support them during the whole labour and birthing process.
  • Postpartum – midwives support women by providing advice on what to expect after the birth. They also teach new and expectant mothers how to feed, care for and bathe their babies.
  • Pregnancies that do not go to plan – you will work with women and families going through severe life challenges such as difficulties conceiving, stillbirth, miscarriage, termination, neonatal death and neonatal abnormalities. 

Within the midwifery profession there are a multitude of job opportunities. You could work in the NHS, within the public or private sector. For example:
  • NHS hospitals
  • Maternity units and birthing centres
  • Public health and policy making
  • Communities
  • Patient’s homes
  • Community clinics
  • Private practice
  • GP surgeries
  • Children’s centres
  • Education and academia
  • Research
  • Leadership roles
  • Voluntary roles
Key features
  • Blended learning programme – MSc (Shortened) Midwifery. 
  •  Blended learning offers a flexible approach to your study, however please note it is still a full-time programme.
  • Weekly midwifery placement experience.
  • Regular face-to-face tutorials.
  • Campus-based clinical skills teaching.
  • Opportunity for peer learning.
  • Variation in learning approaches such as online lectures, case studies, and IT-based activities.
  • Holistic approach and experiences in professional practice.
  •  From 2023, students in Plymouth can train and practice their professional healthcare skills in an inspiring purpose-built environment, InterCity Place. 
  • 50% of online academic study/tutorials and 50% in clinical practice.
  • Having already gained a degree in adult nursing, you will start your studies at level 6 and progress to level 7 in order to gain a masters degree at the end of the three years.
  • Build on your critical approach to research and undertake an extended project. 
  • You will explore the normality and complexities of pregnancy and birthing.
  • Develop skills to be a critical thinker and be a reflective learner.
  • Learn and be a part of interprofessional team working.
  • By the end of the programme, you will be able to promote health and wellbeing and provide autonomous care for birthing people, be an effective team member and support other midwifery students.
  • Become a registered midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council as soon as you successfully complete the programme.
Course details

  • Year 1

  • The first year of the programme includes an individual learning needs assessment, with development of essential midwifery knowledge and skills, and will extend students’ understanding and application of theory and research to all areas of midwifery practice. 

    Core modules

    • Developing Midwifery Practice (MID606BL)

      This module will enable students to contribute to holistic midwifery practice under decreasing supervision and direction in maternity and related clinical settings, aligned with the regulatory body proficiencies.

    • Reproductive Health and Pregnancy (MID702BL)

      This module aims to teach students about a broad range of reproductive health issues and link this with possible effects on pregnancy. Students will study preconception, gynaecological and antenatal care and will analyse factors which may cause complications during pregnancy. 

    • Physiological Childbirth and additional needs (MID703BL)

      This module aims to teach biological concepts relating to anatomy, physiology and epigenetics of labour and birth. Through application of holistic evidenced based care, the student will understand the importance of birth to public health and wellbeing to meet the changing health and care needs of people during all life stages.

    • Postnatal and Neonatal Care (MID704BL)

      This module enables the student to demonstrate mastery in the examination of the newborn and care of the postnatal woman by critically interpreting and synthesising the evidence base of this role in midwifery.

    • Developing Evidence Based Practice (MID705BL)

      This module consolidates student midwifery research scholarship by: demonstrating a mastery of complex knowledge of research through structured literature searching and application to evidence based midwifery practice. The student will demonstrating a systematic understanding of methodological approaches and critically respond to the interpretation of this knowledge base.

    • Developing Midwifery Practice (MID710BL)

      This module will advance the student's professional skills in the context of midwifery practice and role in the wider professional team. Students will extend their knowledge to develop as a safe, competent, woman centred, critical practitioner. This will ensure that the student is developing towards being an evidence informed midwife, at the point of registration, in line with the regulatory body proficiencies.

  • Final year

  • The second year will include a research or practice development project, and enable students to develop the ability to support women with more complex needs through pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period (including the newborn and infant physical examination – NIPE). Students qualifying as midwives following completion of the MSc Midwifery (Shortened) at the University of Plymouth go on to practice as autonomous practitioners across the UK, with the potential to practice midwifery almost anywhere in the world. The programme will also equip graduates for further educational development at PhD level if they wish. 

    Core modules

    • Advancing Midwifery Practice (MID706BL)

      This module promotes excellence in the future midwife’s role as colleague, scholar and leader through demonstration of systematic understanding, critical awareness and new insights. It ensures that the student demonstrates comprehensive evidence-based practice in all core and domain-specific skills and procedures in line with the regulatory body proficiencies, under appropriate supervision.

    • Complexity in Midwifery (1) (MID707BL)

      A module exploring management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with an in-depth focus on conditions peculiar to pregnancy, pre-existing conditions impacting on pregnancy and postnatally. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

    • Complexity in Midwifery (2) (MID708BL)

      A module encompassing management of complexity in midwifery across the whole childbearing continuum of care with an in-depth focus on managing intrapartum midwifery / obstetric emergencies. Pathology, wellbeing and the midwife’s role as part of the multidisciplinary team will be explored.

    • Research and Quality Improvement (MID709BL)

      This module will support students to complete a systematic and in-depth research proposal or quality improvement/practice development project. Students will demonstrate their ability to understand practice development and master the underpinning theories to develop an area of practice, critically evaluating the potential impact on the clinical area or research proposal.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Midwifery Shortened Blended Learning Programme Specification 7331

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.
Entry requirements
Registered Adult Nurse, Part 1 NMC registrant, relevant degree BSc or above usually with 2:1 or above. 
Enhanced DBS and OH clearance is also mandatory, along with two satisfactory references and evidence of relevant clinical experience and recent study (within the last 10 years).
Applicants meeting academic requirements will be invited to attend a face-to-face interview.
Fees, costs and funding
Student 2023-2024 2024-2025
Home £9,250 £9,250
International N/A N/A
Part time (Home) N/A N/A
Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.
How to apply

Information required by UCAS

Institution code
P60

Campus code
There is no campus code

Application deadline
See UCAS website for deadline dates. The deadline for the receipt of international applications is 31 May 2023 for entry in September 2023.

Apply now

The School of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Plymouth recognise that people may act out of character in times of trouble or distress. However, we will not tolerate inappropriate behaviour or language towards any of our staff during the admissions process. Hostile, aggressive, or otherwise inappropriate behaviour or language, whether expressed verbally or in writing, will be viewed seriously and may adversely affect the consideration of an application, appeal, or complaint. We reserve the right to reject an application from, or withdraw an offer to, an applicant who has behaved in an inappropriate manner.

Information required by UCAS

Institution code
P60

Campus code
There is no campus code

Application deadline
See UCAS website for deadline dates

Apply now

Midwifery students to receive £5,000 payment a year

The government is issuing nursing and midwifery students on courses from 2020 a payment of at least £5,000 a year, which they will not have to pay back. A further £3,000 of funding a year is available for eligible students.
Find out more about the bursary
Nursing and midwifery facilities. 

Lucy Oates – Midwifery graduate


Lucy tells us how studying BSc (Hons) Pre-Registration Midwifery set her up for a rewarding career in midwifery.
“Midwifery is a fascinating and rewarding career with many different areas to work in and the support from the University and placements is second to none.”
Lucy Oates,  Pre-Registration Midwifery graduate
Midwifery students

The moment I realised...

“You really do have a long-term impact on a family whether you are a midwife or a student, they just remember you as being someone who was there and held their hand and listened to them.”

Abbie Rich explains the moment she realised she was becoming a midwife.

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